Age 7 - 12 Months

All Toys

Infants 7-9 months interested in longer and more extensive exploration of toys. Infants of this age like to:

bang

insert

poke

twist

squeeze

drop

shake

bite

throw

open and shut

empty and fill

Infants 10-12 months show beginning interest in object mastery and like many objects to explore. Infants of this age like:

stacking.

putting in and taking out.

fitting one object into another.

opening and closing.

pressing levers.

turning things (not unscrewing yet).

push balls and cars.

Generally, infants in this age range are interested in:

operating simple mechanisms.

containers and the container/contained relationship.

appearing and disappearing objects.

As at earlier ages infants enjoy producing effects by their own actions:

safe for mouthing.

non-toxic materials.

no sharp points or edges.

nonbreakable; no glass or brittle plastic.

no small parts to be lodged in throat, ears, nose.

no parts to entrap fingers, toes, hand.

no long strings.

Active Play

Push and Pull Toys

push toys without rods (simple cars, animals on wheels or rollers).

Ride-On Toys - not suited to age group

Outdoor and Gym Equipment

infant swings (with adult supervision).

soft low climbing platform for crawlers.

Sports Equipment

transparent balls

chime balls

flutter balls

action balls

All balls given to this age group should be at least 1-3/4 inches (44 millimeters) in diameter; however, if any object appears to fit easily in the child's mouth, keep it away from the child).

Manipulative Play

Construction Toys

soft blocks.

rubber blocks.

rounded wood blocks.

Puzzles - from about 10 months:

brightly colored, lightweight crib and playpen puzzles (2-3) pieces

Pattern-Making Toys - not suited to age group

Manipulative Toys

teethers

light sturdy cloth toys

toys on suction cups

small, hand-held manipulables.

disks/keys on rings

squeeze/squeak toys

roly-poly toys

activity boxes and cubes

pop-up boxes (easy operation)

containers with object to empty and fill

large rubber or plastic pop beads

simple nesting cups

stacking ring cones (few rings and safe stick)

graspable (unbreakable) mirror toys which can be held and played with

Children lose interest in crib gyms and toys suspended above when he/she can sit up and move about (crib gyms can create a strangulation hazard; stop using when child can push up on hands and knees at about 5 months of age)